Chez Fonfon

Looking for a lunch spot on the way to the airport and I am so happy to have rounded out my AL trip with this amazing meal! I love trying everything that looks good, so you can imagine how big I feel when I leave…I had to make wise decisions…it was only lunch by the way! I went with Nathan’s recommendations (he was fantastic, by the way). Small plates steak tartare, soupe du jour (chanterelle cream), and the fish paillard with persimmon, pickled peppers and cilantro. The fish paillard was my favorite! I was afraid it would be spicy with the way he described it (and he assured me it wouldn’t be), but it was prefect! I also ordered the trout (from NC) amandine with haricots verts and brown butter. I absolutely LOVED taking a bite of the fish, perfectly crisped skin and all, and tasting the sweet buttery flavor. Yum! I ordered off menu for dessert and went with their winter citrus sorbet with shortbread cookie. Key note: ask for an extra shortbread cookie - I could live off these! Will be back!

Immediately upon entering you feel the ‘neighborhood’ ambiance but one notices the world class service, food, pastries, desserts, apps. A spectacular place for our early Valentine’s dinner and it didn’t disappoint—the Wednesday special (Pork schnitzel) was unbelievably tasty; the award winning hamburger with compte and mustard sauce was cooked to perfection, the pommes frites were crispy and the perfect complement to one of the juiciest, flavorful burgers I’ve ever had. The goat cheese appetizer was a great opening act and we closed the experience with the James Beard award winning coconut pecan cake and the chocolate caramel tart—PERFECT!!!

An exquisite take on traditional French dining. This is an ideal date night spot. The place just has an aura to it that is so inviting. Like going to dinner at a friend’s house. (A friend that is an extremely good cook and mixologist.) To start off, the escargot was absolutely heavenly. It had a nice sear that provided a small amount of crunch, but it wasn’t overcooked. Their expression of beef tartare was wonderful. Very rich, savory, umami, and acidic. The mussels were in a buerre blanc sauce, and I believe the butter was from Normandy. It took all the willpower I had not to drink it from the bowl when I was finished. The hanger steak was cooked perfectly, and had a chimichurri that accented it very well. The farm raised trout was the surprise star. So succulent. Seasoned and adorned perfectly. After the entrees I was so elated that I thought the dining experience had surely peaked. Then I had the coconut pecan cake. It is an absolute culinary masterpiece. I can’t overstate how much you absolutely need to try it if you’re fortunate enough to eat dinner at Chez Fonfon. I must also mention that staff. They were all so polite, helpful, caring, and professional. I wish I could award a higher rating than Google allows.

We dropped in on a drizzly Thursday evening without reservations, thinking we might score bar seats. Instead we got a sweet table in their covered patio, and it was perfect. Our drinks came out quickly and were very good. I got the Sazerac on our waiter's recommendation, and it hit the spot. My date got an Old Fashioned and it was good, but not the classic boozy recipe I love. We started with the Fish Paillard and it was delicious. The thin tuna was buttery and perfectly seasoned. I came for the famed burger, and it was amazing served medium rare. The generous portion of pomme frites were crisp on the outside and needed nothing but eating. If you think Trout Almondine sounds boring (as I did), that is incorrect at least at Chez Fonfon. It was absolutely addicting. Everything on the plate was outstanding. The haricots verde were as good as the fish. We had to get the coconut pecan cake and it lives up to it's vaunted reputation. The only glitch in the evening was at the end. We ordered a cappuccino to go with our cake and added frangelico at our server's suggestion. But it didn't come and instead, he brought us a little herbal digestif he said he wanted us to try. He realized his mistake after we'd tried the bitter but enjoyable (to me) infusion, but we'd already finished the cake so passed on reordering the late cappuccino. Unfortunately we still paid for our mistakenly delivered digestif, which left a bit of a bitter aftertaste in an otherwise near-perfect meal. Barring that lapse, service was as good as it gets in BHM. We'll certainly return.

Stopped in for a late lunch to celebrate a recent business meeting. The bar was open for immediate seating and the bartender was fully versed on the menu and legacy of the family resto. Extremely high quality.

Great food, great service. Wish I wasn't on diet so I could eat the burger, I hear it's the best. I had the trigger fish, and my wife has the pork schnitzel. Both were amazing. I cannot remember our servers name, but he did an amazing job. We also saw Mr. Stitt outside, a local celebrity if you ask me! We will definitely be back soon. I recommend lunch, it's awesome to see the building in the sunlight. I am sure dinner is just as good though.

Pretty busy location. Took 45 minutes to get a table for a walk in. Definitely get a reservation instead. The trout dish was delicious. Needed some salt but overall it was cooked very well. I'm not really a sorbet person but their sorbet was the best sorbet I've ever had. Definitely give it a try!

If you don't have reservation you may be lucky to sit at the bar and enjoy this lovely restaurant. Food is overall good. Start with a French 75 cocktail, then I tried their escargot and were very buttery but not garlicky definetly order a baguette to dip ( so not French like but....oh well). The fish paillard from small cuisine menu was a good balance of tangy/buttery pickled peppers complimenting the fish. I also tried one of the desert was not as I expected , it was more of a fusion Ameri- Frech = rich , very sweet American coconut pecan cake with a splash of creme anglaise. If the cake was less sweet creme anglais would have been a good compliment. But this is to my taste , not to say it wasn't good. Overall I look forward to my next trip in the area to try other dishes. I wholeheartedly recommend it. Enjoy 😋

Had a friend visiting that is a Chef that wanted to see if Bham could live up to her reputation as a Foodie's town? Made our reservations for 60 mins after their plane was supposed to land. I kept pushing it back every time the airline's website updated his arrival time. We finally gave the valet my car 2 hour later than my original reservation. The hostess softly cheered when we arrived. I couldn't believe she remembered me in detail from previous times?! Talk about an employee making a great impression on a customer? She even told me my favorite desert was on the menu!? (She remember correctly.) We could sit at the bar immediately or wait for a table shortly? I'm glad we decided to wait because before my friend could finish accurately reviewing the menu and decide their preference, we were seated. The restaurant isn't that large but the music and background sounds are pleasantly satisfying. Low conversations, the clicking of silverware on China, collections of laughter and sounds of pleasure about the food drifted around us. We both stopped mid sentence whenever a server walked past with plates of food. We agreed to split the Shrimp and avocado salad as an appetizer. He insisted the best judge of a restaurant is how they prepare Eggs and Burgers but we could not agree to split those dishes so we each ordered separate entrees. He had the Escargots and Trout. Their breads and desserts are made in the house daily and are outstanding. Needless to say we didn't hesitate to order a 2nd basket of bread and extra butter for our salads. Making a small shrimp sandwich might embarrass others, but we suggest they put it on the menu! I was full after our appetizer. I regretted I had ordered their burger until it arrived. The cheese was perfectly melting over the thick juicy pinkish patty. I gave in and gave my guest a taste of my perfectly prepared burger so he could enjoy it too. He didn't believe the fluffy bun was house made? I refrained from tasting his meal simply because I don't like any of it. Not fish or snails but he gave compliments to the kitchen. I did take his roasted mushrooms and peas home to enjoy with my almost otherwise untouched burger and fries. I took everything out the fridge the next day and ate it for breakfast at room temperature except for the fries. My coconut & pecan cake was eaten first. It never disappoints and it IS one of my favorites. He is a tee totter like me but liked their wine list as well as their listed mixed drinks. The consensus of our first of many meals was it will be hard to top this excellent experience. The service was outstanding, the food was superb and although we were late, the dining room was packed but it didn't impede on our pleasant conversations. We didn't have any problems and have agreed to come back before he leaves. Unfortunately one of his pet peeves are people taking pictures of their meals to supplement their reviews of restaurants . (Shhh). As an industry insider he was impressed and as a consumer I concur 100%.

Best French food I have had for years. It is a lovely place with almost every detail perfect (only flaw; bare wooden tables...they beg for a tiny vase of flowers for decoration) Food is authentic French done very well. Special lamb soup was delicious. Duck confit was a bit salty but very yummy. Crisp skin succulent meat on a luscious bed of giganti bean puree plus more whole beans and more Everything was done to perfection. Crisp attention service by servers in bistro uniforms.bathrooms clean with nice details We loved it and hope to go back

I was in town for a business trip, and I am so glad I chose this restaurant! I ate at the bar since I didn't make reservations, which I highly recommend you do if you do not want to sit there and have advance time to plan. Nonetheless, I enjoyed my bar seat as the bartender, Chris, was fantastic. He was highly knowledgeable of the menu down to the very last herb (and that's an understatement), and wine pairing selections were fabulous. Chris took the time to let me take photos of the bottles for my Vivino app. The food was amazing! I had the steak tartare and Coquille St. Jacques. Both dishes were incredible. Even though I was ridiculously full, I ordered a pecan coconut cake to go and it did not disappoint. I highly recommend this restaurant. 10 stars and Chris would be a millionaire if he received a dollar for each time he smiled at a customer. Good service is hard to find these days and excellent service is almost extinct. Chris provided service so rare, I can't remember the last time I experienced it. Kudos!

Good spot if you can tolerate 5 points. We got the baguette and butter for a starter, solid run of the mill bread. Then I got the fonfon cheeseburger with Fritas. Burger was good with grilled onion and trimmings and I liked the sauce that came with the Fritas, the only problem was all the fries were nubs and broken bits. I told my wife they were fancier Steak 'n Shake fries so they're good but wish I would've gotten long fries instead of fry bits. All in all it was good but nothing special and not a place I'm dying to go back to. Good if you're in the area

My favorite restaurant in Birmingham. Literally everything on the menu is amazing and you cannot go wrong with a single option. Escargot, trout, and steak frites are some of my favorite options. If they have the grouper as a special of the day, try it as well. This place is legendary!

I just had a fantastic meal at Chez Fonfon It was my first grouper meal and it was excellent. I particularly appreciated the sauce the chef used with the grouper. It is a wonderful rare treat to be able to completely enjoy a delicate seafood that is complimented instead of overpowered by a sauce. Compliments to the kitchen... and the service at the bar was excellent

One of Birmingham's prized fine dining restaurants! Fonfon is super popular, so make sure to make a reservation and come early to find parking. The service here is always consistent and reliable. The wait staff is very nice and attentive; I always ask for their recommendations before deciding on a meal. I've had everything from their cheese board, daily fish special, burger (which is claimed to be the best in the city), and almost all of the desserts. Their absolute best item is the coconut pecan cake. I've gotten a slice after my meal, to-go, and even ordered a whole cake for an event!

This is easily, my favorite restaurant in Birmingham! I have tried those things on the menu, and every single time I have come, I've been treated with such a wonderful service! My favorite thing is the trout and asparagus and potatoes, or the burger, I would probably say thatbit has the best burgers in town! You have to try it for yourself. The chocolate cake here is also phenomenal. I can easily say that I have come here for most big events, anniversaries, birthdays, or random excuses. Will definitely give it more stars if I could. :)

I was in Birmingham for work and gladly found this amazing restaurant near my hotel. The chicken liver mousse was so good! I highly recommend this restaurant if you are in y!

I've only been featuring my favorite restaurants this month on my IG foodie account. Today I'll be highlighting my favorite fine dining restaurant in Birmingham. In my opinion, it does not get any better than Chez Fonfon. Chez Fonfon is our "special occasion spot". We came here to celebrate right after my wife proposed to me at Railroad Park over 8 years ago & it's been special to us since. "Favorites month" is a special occasion right?? Most definitely! Last night we ordered a couple of dishes & split them for our own little smorgasbord. The special of the day was the Lobster & Shrimp BLT which was irresistible! Served open-faced on toasted fresh bread topped with lots of beautiful lobster claw meat, succulent shrimp, crisp bacon, lettuce, 2 types of summer tomatoes with a light buttery sauce. An absolutely DIVINE dish! It was outstanding. I could eat another one right now just thinking about it. This is only available on Wednesday so plan accordingly. For years I've heard that Chez Fonfon is home to the best burger in Birmingham. I've always been curious, but hadn't tried it because how could I pick a burger over the trout, the mussels, the hanger steak?? Curiosity got the best of me last night & I am so glad it did. The Hamburger Fonfon 100% lived up to the hype. Truly the BEST burger in Birmingham. Served with comté (French cheese), grilled red onion, pickles & pommes frites. Similar to, but 100 times better than a burger cooked on your backyard grill. If you haven't yet, do yourself a favor & try this burger! The pommes frites are fabulous too. If you've followed me on IG for a minute then you've already seen me rave about the chicken liver mousse & grilled baguette...however I will happily state once again that this is my favorite dish from ANY restaurant in the country. It's smokey, salty & deliciously decadent. Perfection on a plate. Impeccable service, stunning atmosphere, terrific cocktails & some of the best dishes in Birmingham. Thank you yet again, Chez Fonfon. You're magnificent!

So far this is the best food I've had in the Birmingham area. My local guides to Birmingham have been failing me very hard until recently when I finally connected with one that is also a Yelp Elite who has some excellent guidance for the area. This establishment fits nicely into the American French Bistro category and has a really nice selection of many French style dishes. They also do a really great cheeseburger although the frites/fries could be improved a bit with the using some goose or duck fat to fry the fries in. If you are looking for a nice burger in the Birmingham area this place can certainly help you with that quest. Reservations would be highly recommended as this is a smaller venue and it seems to stay VERY crowded as it does seem to be one of the better options in the area. Overall this is the best thing I've eaten so far around Birmingham but now that I've got a better local guide I look forward to better food during future visits. My video review of Chez Fonfon is here: https://youtu.be/nH6LIPqUiSk

Lunch was absolutely phenomenal. Best meal I've had in years. Had a salmon imported from Scotland. It essentially ruined all other salmons for me! Atmosphere was lovely, and service from N. Angel was best of the best. Coconut cake for dessert all day every day. Husband ordered their burger paired with the perfect red. His lemon tart was the stuff of dreams with the most beautiful executed meringue. Go treat yourself!

The best of the best in French cuisine in Birmingham! Authentic atmosphere, and impeccable service. It's always a delight coming here.

The mussels are amazing!!! I couldn't get enough of them! I do recommend getting them with a side of the bread instead of fries so you can soak up all the amazing broth!

Yes, here's another 5 Star review of Chez Fonfon. But if you've ever enjoyed a dining experience here, you didn't need me to tell you how wonderful it is. And if you've never been, you need to go ASAP. Every single thing about Chez is amazing from the time you walk in you'll feel the vibe, smell the food, notice the beautiful drinks people are enjoying. Once you're seated you'll experience the wonderful service from a smiling server. No matter what you eat, it will be fabulous. Enjoy

This is a place to go for a taste of French cuisine. I choose the breakfast route with a very tasty omelet.

We wanted to dine somewhere nice in Birmingham and saw this restaurant listed on a couple articles so decided to check it out. We made a reservation in advance. Nice ambiance inside, feels like an upscale restaurant to take somewhere for dinner. French Blonde (cocktail): It was a little sweet for me, would try something else next time. Fish Paillard: We really enjoyed this! Nice way to try some delicious seafood without committing to a full entree-sized portion of it. Steak Tartare: Delicious! Served with plenty of toasted bread and arugula. Mussels: These were okay, not a standout. Cheeseburger: The waitress described it as a very honest burger. Not entirely sure what that means, but it's a really good burger! Thick patty, good flavor. Side of fries with it. Overall, nice meal and our waitress was really friendly.

I ate in the bar for lunch today. I had the cheeseburger which is rated as the best in Alabama. It's at least top five. It was very good. Maybe the fries could use a boost- crispier with fresh coarse salt (and homemade ketchup!) but overall one of the best lunches to be had in BHM. Really attentive and fun bartender. Very nice French bistro atmosphere . Would recommend all day.

Birmingham is a true fine dining mecca. Just look at how many restaurants have received James Beard recognition. One of the top rated restaurants, Highlands, has been temporarily closed in 2022, so we weren't able to experience it on this trip. But I have wonderful memories of my first visit. The positive of this disappointment was dining for the first time next door at their sister restaurant: Chez Fonfon. This restaurant is intimate, beautifully decorated and staffed by polished servers. The French-influenced menu was incredible. My only criticism was the restaurant got warm and stuffy when the air conditioning wasn't running. We started with the Bear Creek steak tartare and amazing escargot. For entrees, we ordered the Roasted Red Fish, Steak Frites (which is a true signature) and Mussels. All were beautifully plated, perfectly prepared and oh so good. We could have ordered a second helping of Mussels. Dipping French Bread in the butter and white wine sauce was decadent. The dessert course was probably the highlight of our meal. The coconut pecan cake, chocolate caramel nut tart and the pear & almond tart were spectacular choices.

I love this place. Every time I visit Birmingham I eat here. It is in my top 10 places in the Southeast. The restaurant is nicely located on the Southside of Birmingham on the same block as 5 Points South. Street parking is at a premium, but they have valet parking for free. Making reservations is easy and they typically give you 2 hours for your meal. Pro tip: If they are out of reservations online, call them. They hold some. The inside is nicely decorated and has a good vibe. The noise level is comfortable even when they are operating at capacity. The wait staff is very knowledgeable and many of them have long tenure. I think that speaks volumes about management and it is reflected in the quality of the experience and the product. Our waiter made several recommendations, shared details not on the menu, and his description of the swordfish meal sold it to my son. The food in a word: "amazing". The escargot is great and a couple of our party tried it for the first time. The garlic ratio is always spot on. The charcuterie plate is as unique and flavorful as the restaurant name. Exploding flavors on every bite. The goose pate is my personal favorite. I had the beef cheeks and the richness of the flavor left me feeling pleasantly satisfied. The rich deep flavors accompanied by perfectly prepared beef were in every bite. The lemon dessert was the perfect ending to another meal. I will return and you should visit them as well.

Wonderful environment, excellent staff, prices are good and the food is excellent this eatery has a relaxed classy upscale air.

We rarely go out to dinner at a fine dining restaurant. It is not just the expense; it is the past two (2) years of isolation. Hard to break the mold. Chez Fonfon was an excellent choice. This meal pre-Valentine's day is what we do prior to a holiday rush at restaurants. The Vibe was very classy, like being in a bistro in Paris fell. Tables with chairs, small dining room and a very warm bar. I love they have valet which in 5 Point is no little thing. The Manager would walk around and really notice how guest were reacting to the food. The Service was great. That means giving enough time to have a pre-meal cocktail, never rushing the meal, great suggestions and limited engagement. The waiter has a slight accent and that added to the feel for the meal. The Food was very good. This is why I only gave this visit a four star. My meal was outstanding. The appetizer was seared tuna with a lovely bit to it. It had just a hint of heat. I had the Steak which came with fries that were some of the bests I have ever had and a salad on the same plate. I ordered a bread for the table, and it was from the best baker in town Hinkle. My desert was the famous coconut cake which was just OK. Was not as moist as in the past. My wife ordered the trout Almondine. It was slightly overcooked which was disappointing and lowered the stars to four. Drinks: I got a martini called "The Orange Thing". I loved it. Not on the menu but everyone knows about it. All in all, a lovely and much deserved night out on the town which we used as our Valentine Meal. Eat well, drink well and stay healthy.

I'm pretty generous with my reviews, but I don't often hand out "Best in Birmingham" compliments. This is without a doubt one of the best meals I have had in Birmingham. I came with one of my foodie friends. We like to try a bunch of things and split everything, so that's what we did. We had the steak frites and trout amandine as our main courses. The operative word here is BUTTER which makes sense at a French establishment. They douse you in butter but balance everything with the correct amount of acid so you can't stop eating! The sauces, the textures, the cook on everything was divine. When I thought it couldn't get better, we ordered dessert. The strawberry trifle - DELICIOUS! And we took a chance on the basque cake which was recommended by our excellent server. Call me plebeian, but I had never heard of a basque cake. The description sounded ho-hum. But we took our server's advice, and I am so glad we did! The basque cake tasted like the most heavenly sugar cookie of your life had a baby with a French loaf pan. It was melty, fluffy, and rich. I seriously never wanted it to end. I had to get my friend a basque cake for her birthday a few months later because it was just that memorable. The staff are SO nice, even if you are picking up takeout in your sweats. (They actually bring your food to your car for you.) I can't believe I lived in Birmingham for over 8 years before trying Chez Fonfon. Do yourself a flavor - I mean, favor - and come here. I can't wait to come back.

When you enter Chez Fonfon, you will be transported to a fine French cafe. The wait staff here is amongst the most professional and refined that can be found in any Resturant in our state. The interior is a well appointed and authentic French cafe. The food is absolutely an epicurean delight. The craft cocktails here are fabulous. Chez Fonfon is a rare gem. Give it a try folks - you will not be disappointed.

A very solid dining experience all around. Lovely service. Nice ambiance, could've been a little more interesting decor wise but overall nice and functional space. We enjoyed the escargot, hamburger, and hanger steak. I would've liked for a more interesting aioli to come with the hamburger. Give me peppery or garlic or parm fries. Give me a watercress aioli. Give me something more interesting. It was very solid all around but didn't wow me. The grilled onions and pickles were nice and I recommend that you add them and try the burger with everything included. My husband's steak was very tasty, the salsa gave it an interesting element. Well prepared, all in all. I genuinely appreciate when restaurants properly prepare a medium burger or a medium rare steak. We were, unfortunately, too full for dessert. All in all a nice dining experience. I know many have Fonfon as their favorite restaurant in town but it won't steal that top spot for me. I may have to return if I see some seasonal menu items that catch my eye.

Absolutely amazing! When I'm in town, this is the place to eat! The food is fabulous.

My bday was good because I went here to eat lunch by myself. I sampled and ate til my heart was content. The service was good and the staff were helpful in making suggestions on what to try. It was a suggestion from my lawyer but the ambiance I was not expecting an authentic experience that had a France feel to it with not only real ingredients but cray paper for the table.

This is a go to lunch date spot. Service is always great, and they've had the same staff for a bit which feels like a good sign of management, they're knowledgeable and make excellent recommendations, and of course the food is always spectacular. Get there, boo!

Food and service was fantastic when we visited. The ambiance was very much just dining in at someone's home and was very welcoming. The service was absolutely amazing and we left so full.

My bestie wanted to come here for the cake lol. I on the other hand wanted to eat eat. Please make a reservation via resy. They are obviously really busy and popular. The server was amazing with trying to help us settle on a wine we liked. We settled on a Rosé and mixed drinks lol. I ordered the Beaujolais salad-lettuces, lardons, soft boiled egg & garlic croûtons. The salad was good but it was dressed or it was extremely lightly dressed. The soft boiled egg was a great addition to the salad as well. My friend refused to eat hers so. I had 2 eggs. Lol. S&P those babies and enjoyed myself. Trout amandine with brown butter, brabant potatoes & haricots verts. The almonds were substituted for capers (which are my favorite) so I was elated when he offered it. The fish was cooked PERFECTLY and the green beans were well prepared as well. I also had a bite of Amber's burger bcus she swore it was magnificent and it most definitely was. Perfectly cooked medium well burger. She got her cake to go and most definitely loved it like she expected too when we talked the next day lol. Definitely recommend.

Excellent food, service, and ambience. Very tasteful; very French. Not pet friendly, but for some that's a plus.

We went here to celebrate a birthday and had a great time! The food was great and our server was amazing and extremely helpful! Be prepared-- everything is in French!! Even the bathrooms! We even had to ask our waiter/look up a couple things from the menu. Also there's $5 charge per person at the table even if u want to bring in your own cake to celebrate. Overall, nice food and atmosphere Steak frites and fries 10/10!!!!!

Trout almondine is to die for!!! The sauce is perfect and the atmosphere is welcoming!

This is the best restaurant in Birmingham, hands down. Best burger I've ever had. Basque cake is incredible. Succulent flavors, atmosphere, and service. Prices are fair too. Have to go here.

Today was about my third time dining at Chez Fonfon. I've had nothing less than an excellent experience each time! Hard to get dinner reservations here, which is perfectly understandable. Not many places to dine that offer excellent quality, good food, great service, an on top ambiance and atmosphere consistently with each dining experience. Dined at lunch time today. Sat at the bar until my table reservation time. Sipped on very tasty cherry coke on the rocks (lol!), that was "the best I've ever had!" Ordered the lobster and shrimp BLT, of course everything I've ever eaten here has been superb tasting. Yet, as I stated to the waitress, I must admit "that BLT was also the best BLT I've ever had"!

One of the best restaurant I have been to. I would recommend this place for special nights or regular dinner. Service: The hosts were extremely nice and welcome. She would move the tables and chairs for you to sit. Our server was the BEST. When we ordered the chicken liver mousse and ran out of bread, he brought us more. He also took extensive time to explain the meals cuz none of us is very familiar with French food. He would explain how the food is cooked and what ingredients are inside. Food: we ordered the chicken liver mousse for appetizer which was superb. We also ordered hanger steak, braised pork shoulder, half chicken, snapper (forgot the name for this one). All of them are DELICIOUS. The couscous that came with the fish was amazing. The eggplant that came with half chicken was also good. Pork shoulder came with interesting sauce to complement with the pork should and with pear which is interesting and delicious. Overall, I felt that we could order anything and be satisfied. Other things to know: free valet parking, changing menus, book in advance for seats. I believe bar is open for walk ins.

The atmosphere and service were excellent. We had a lot of questions about the menu, and our server was very knowledgeable and patient. The special starter of the evening was one of my favorite dishes - I hope they add it to the menu (avocado and crab toast *chef's kiss*). The pork shoulder was incredibly tender and the flavor was perfect. The basque cake is as great as everyone says it is - not too sweet, and baked to perfection! Would highly recommend for a nice evening out, but make sure you make a reservation a few weeks ahead of time! Not a place you can just pop into.

We really enjoyed our dinner here at Chez Fonfon. I came here with my husband, sister, and her husband. Everything was really good. My sister got the escargot. She said it was great. For dinner I got the vendredi special which is bouillabaisse. So glad I did! The sauce it came in was fantastique! For dessert, I tried the coconut pecan cake. It was good, just didn't wow me. What really made this a 5 star experience was our server, Patrick. He was so wonderful and just made our experience so great. Would request him as our server next time we go because we will be back!

I cannot say enough good things about Chez Fonfon. I first stopped by for a quick bite at the bar before a night out, and ended up staying until the house lights came on! I sat at the bar with my friend, and I met Mike and Chris, the world's best bartenders. I quickly found myself coming back every week or every other week, bringing new friends, trying every dish on the menu. YOU CANNOT GO WRONG. Chef's ability to take these dishes and perfect their flavors and textures, it is truly a work of flavorful art. The staff are all kind, Patrick, Katie, and many more! And truly the food is great, but Mike and Chris are why I kept coming back. They mixed delicious cocktails to pair with the incredible food and kept me laughing and learning while enjoying the meal I most look forward to each week. I have since moved away, but I miss my time at the bar in Chez Fonfon trying new wines and sharing a good meal with great people. If you live in Birmingham or you are just visiting, you must must must make every effort to enjoy a great meal at this cozy, french provincial palace of fine food and delicious drinks. Say hi to Mike and Chris while you're at it too.

When you have to have a "burger" (rated top 10 in US), go quickly. The burgers are 1/2 pound and "marbled" w/ duck fat, served w/ home made fries, naturally. The 1st time I went I had another kind of sandwich, don't remember which, which was great. Then I took a bite of my wife's hamburger! I've never ordered anything else. There's a back story to Frank Stitt, Beard award winner for best "white table cloth" restaurant in US in 2019, another 5 star place. But Chez Fonfon is my goto spot for seafood or a sandwich, especially a burger and fries!

Food and service were excellent. Almost everyone at our table had the Thursday crab cake special and thought it was wonderful.

Delicious meal here. https://blainerestaurantreport.wordpress.com/2023/12/08/chez-fonfon-birmingham-al-report-648/

The food is great. The ambience is cool, upscale but laid back and the servers are attentive but not stuffy and do a great job. Our server today was Nathan. He did a great job. Trust me. Try Chez Fonfon. You can thank me later.

Holy cow, it doesn't matter how many times you have been here the food and service are always amazing. Just from the moment you walk in, everything is just top notch. It is a bit loud. Ok, it's a LOT loud, the only thing I would change, but the drinks, the service, the food and the atmosphere are always just wonderful. If you go try out any of their braised dishes, they are where the kitchen absolutely shines. Anyone can make a good grilled item but braises take heart, soul, love and time and OhmyGOD it shows here. We had coq au vin the last time and an absolutely magnificent lamb navarin this time (and steak frites, hub always gets steak frites) and I would have licked the sauce off of broken glass it's so good. Just make the reservation and come. The price points are extremely reasonable for the amount of work and care that goes into everything here and you will NEVER be disappointed!

Fon Fon always has the best food. I haven't been in quite awhile We ordered the tuna and crab appetizers. Dinner was the lobster /shrimp BLT , Fon Fon burger and the fresh snapper. All were excellent along with a fabulous server. We will be back soon! I am missing Highland's grits though.

Always a wonderful and delicious dining experience! The service is top-notch and the servers are well-versed in the extensive wine selection.

Oh the food! I ordered black grouper that came with couscous and the waiter heard me say I avoid gluten so he had the kitchen replace the couscous with haricots verts (green beans) and roasted potatoes. So fantastic!! I didn't even realize couscous was a gluten product! But the best part of the meal was the taste! The topping on the fish was phenomenal! Yummm!! Great spot with valet parking! Thanks to Michael our server. Will be back!!

Absolutely lived up to it's reputation. Our group, respectively, had the trout with the almonds (and she has been talking about it being a top meal since), and two of us had the mussels in the light curry sauce (so buttery and mild and amazing. They come with perfectly seasoned frites that you can use to enjoy the extra sauce). The salmon appetizer was so simple and so satisfying. And we also had the chicken pate. Also rich and delicious. To top it off, our waiter was AMAZING. You know how you have those incredible meals that are made even more perfect because of the service. Well this was one! He also shared a pro tip if you're having trouble getting in. Their lunch and dinner menu are the same. And they don't close in between. So if you are dying to try it and go around 4:00 you can likely get a chance to experience it. I will absolutely be back! Thank you Chez Fonfon!

Chez FonFon is a Frank Stith restaurant. What's not to like about a gourmet French restaurant with French decor, menu, and service. Even the building itself looks French. Everything is delicious with a European flair. Watch for the crab cake special. And the salade nicoise is perfection. They always have in house pastries, desserts, the most delicious butter in town, soups with stratospheric flavor, and condiments that top the dishes off with flavor bursts only Frank Stith could produce. Try Chez FonFon. It doesn't disappoint.

Best burger in town. It is worth the hype that many people claim is the best burger in Birmingham. Great selection on wine. Service is attentive.